Medicine in collapse: shortage of drugs and increased mortality among chronic patients

In the fall of 2024, the situation with medical care resulted in a serious crisis. In the regions, an increase in mortality has been recorded among the elderly and chronically ill, partly due to a shortage of imported drugs, medicines, and consumables. Pharmacies bought up everything they had, and new supplies were delayed due to sanctions and logistical difficulties. Hospitals complained of a lack of equipment and supplies, and doctors complained of being overworked. Many patients in need of regular treatment - oncological, cardiovascular, diabetic - have experienced interruptions. This affected hundreds of thousands of people. The social obligations of the state against the backdrop of war and mobilization seemed to take priority, but behind this there were real losses: human lives, trust, hope for help. People who had trusted the health care system all their lives felt that “guaranteed care” was becoming an elusive concept. 2024 was the year when survival became a matter of access to medicines, rather than just health concerns. When government promises no longer correspond to reality, and the hospital ceased to be a refuge.